LAKE ORION, Mich. (July 13, 2012) Two of the 35 amateurs in the field made the cut, led by Sean Knapp, 50, of Oakmont, Pa., near Pittsburgh. He added a 72 to his opening 70 for a 142 aggregate total. Also moving on, was Doug Hanzel, 55, of Savannah, Ga., who was steady with 71-72-143.

Knapp is tied for 36th place with a group of players that includes 1982 U.S. Open champion Tom Watson.

“It's huge. My goal coming in here was just to make the cut,” said Knapp, who made it to the finals of Q-School on the Champions Tour last year. “I've played in 33 USGA events. It's not much out in this environment, but I do have some experience, and I have played some good players over the years. And at the end of the day, I was fairly certain that I could play well.”

Reigning U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Randy Lewis, playing on a special exemption, rebounded from an opening 80 with a respectable 73, but came up short at 153. Former Mid-Am champ Tim Jackson, who had finished as low amateur in the championship two of the last three years, missed at 74-147.

ABOUT THE U.S. Senior Open

The U.S. Senior Open is one of 13 national
championships conducted by the USGA. Open
to amateurs and professionals who have reached
their 50th birthday as of the first day of the
championship.

The Senior Open was first
played in 1980 with a purse of, get this, just
$100,000. Roberto Vincenzo of Argentina was the
inaugural champion (winning $20,000), and Arnold
Palmer was a popular winner the following year in
1981 at Oakland Hills. The purse has since grown to
almost $4 million with the winner taking $675,000.